The Fatuiva Monarch is the most endangered bird in French Polynesia, with no more than 6 living pairs in the whole world ! The black rat, a large tree-climbing rodent that feeds on coconuts and can readily attack monarch nests that are found in purau or fau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) trees, eats the eggs, chicks and even the nesting females when it can. The rat arrived there by accident on the cargo boat during the 80s, causing a dramatic decline in the monarch population, from thousands of individuals in the 90s to just 30 individuals in 2015, which included just 3 reproducing pairs ! Feral cats (domestic cats that have returned to the wild) are also partly responsible for the population crash. The young monarchs are extremely vulnerable, only 5% make it through to adulthood. Indeed, the young monarchs are very naive and spend a lot of time on the ground, making them easy prey for hungry cats. Endemic to Fatuiva (the southernmost island in the Marquesas Islands), this bird is known as the oma’o ke’eke’e in Marquesan (scientific name Pomarea whitneyi). It is listed as being in ‘Critical Danger of Extinction’according to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List. It is an insectivorous bird that lives in purau thickets. Inhabitants living on the island for more than 40 years remember a time when it was common. Many different stories tell of how the monarch would sing to forewarnthe inhabitants of an impending event, be it good or bad. A team of 4 local personnel from the island are permanently on the ground and are fiercely dedicated to saving their island’s unique natural heritage (the ‘oma’o ke’eke’e being the only endemic bird on Fatuiva). There has been a big domestic cat sterilization program carried out by vets in collaboration with the association (102 cats have been sterilized this far). As part of the ERASMUS+ program, Maria, a Spanish volunteer, has also spent 3 months on the island assisting the team. This biologist, that is highly dedicated to saving biodiversity, underlines the point «this conservation work, that is in fact very difficult in such steep-sided and humid valleys, is crucial to the survival of the species». Thomas Ghestemme, the program manager, states «we almost lost the species in 2008 (just 2 breeding pairs), then in 2015 (3 breeding pairs) but the intervention has allowed disaster to be avoided. Currently the population is growing by 15% a year and we’ve seen 2 new young breeding pairs forming in the last 6 months ! » It’s slow (1 chick per nest) but steady progress, with between 4 and 6 chicks being born every year. Today, most of the young survive to become adults ! Continuing efforts are needed to ensure that the new sites colonized by the young pairs are safe from predators, in particular the regular setting of rat poison near nests. The conservation program continues thanks to support from the local government, Fatuiva’s mayor, a bird adoption program for the public, sponsoring from local companies, in particular Air Tahiti. FB  : Manu-SOP ; website  : www.manu.pf NATURE The Fatuiva Monarch back from the brink ! Mise en place de raticide./Setting down rat poison B. Ignace – SOP Manu Village d’Omoa à Fatuiva./Omoa village, Fatuiva - R. Luta – SOP Manu. La vallée Ta'i'u est la dernière abritant les monarques./Ta’i'u valley is the last one that is home to Monarchs - R. Luta – SOP Manu. L'équipe locale avec 2 volontaires et le président de l’association Manu au centre./The team of locals along with 2 volunteers and the president of the association Manu, in the center - B. Ignace – SOP Manu RiR TFIHiTi 93